Du Yu hurried forward, grabbed Liu Ling, and asked in a low voice, "Liu Ling! What are you doing?!"
"Oh! Brother Yu!" Liu Ling swayed as he spoke. "This old man is all bluster. I need to teach him a lesson."
"What do you mean, all bluster? You're spouting drunken nonsense yourself. Come back with me!" Du Yu started to pull Liu Ling away.
But just then, the old man lying drunk on the ground slowly stood up. He braced a hand against the wall, looking as though he might fall at any moment.
"You're the one who's all bluster, youngster!" The old man forced his eyes open. "You say you know Du Kang, so why have I never heard him mention you?"
"And I've never heard Brother Du Kang mention anyone named Yi Di," Liu Ling sneered. "We both claim to be his friend, but how do we prove it?"
This is bad, Du Yu thought. Liu Ling seemed to be getting carried away.
"Sir!" Du Yu hastily addressed the old man before him. "My brother here talks nonsense when he's drunk. Don't take him seriously. The moment I heard your name was Yi Di, I knew you must know Du Kang. I believe you, all right?"
"Get away!" Yi Di roared. "I don't need you two humoring me!"
Seeing Du Yu pushed aside, Liu Ling grew displeased too. "You really are a nasty drunk, old man. Brother Yu kindly offered you a step down, yet you don't know a favor when you see one!"
Yi Di waved his hand and said to Liu Ling, "Youngster, stop your blustering. Since we both claim to know Du Kang, why don't we each explain how he brewed wine? Let everyone in the tribe hear our accounts and judge whose rings truer!"